Frequently Asked Questions [archived]
The Pilot Programme
What is the network for?
The Early Modern Boundaries network is for researchers in early modern studies whose work has a multilingual, transnational or comparative element to discuss research queries among targeted groups of fellow researchers.
It is also possible to post general announcements about new events, projects, publications and other news. We round up news items in a regular email newsletter.
How does this improve on mailing lists and Twitter?
The platform allows discussion among small, filtered groups of members in a way that mailing lists do not. In effect, the network is a customizable mailing list. We hope this platform supplements Twitter as a research tool by providing a professional space in which researchers can identify and contact specialists with research queries.
What do you hope to achieve?
We aim to facilitate international collaboration among early modernists from across the world for the duration of the pilot programme, and to stimulate debate about online research communication in the humanities.
Who’s behind this?
The network has been launched using follow-on funding from a British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award held by Peter Auger (Queen Mary University of London). The steering group provides advice to ensure that the platform is diverse, inclusive and well-run.
How did you select the steering group?
The steering group consists of researchers representing a wide variety of subject areas, departments, universities and habits of online communication. Most spoke at the symposium on ‘National Boundaries in Early Modern Literary Studies’ held at Queen Mary in September 2015, which was where the need for such a platform was first identified.
Why are you running this project only until January 2019?
The pilot programme is intended to learn whether there is longer-term demand for such a platform, and our funding allows us to run the platform until January 2019.
What happens after that date?
We’re not sure yet! The steering group will make ongoing assessments about how the platform is being used, and we will seek a new source of funding if we believe that platform should be continued in some form. We would be very happy to hear ideas about the project’s future direction: get in touch at [email protected] or [email protected].
Joining
Who can join?
Anyone working in early modern studies (c. 15th-18th centuries) at Masters level and above is welcome to sign up. The platform is intended for researchers whose work has a multilingual, transnational or comparative element.
Researchers from all nations and all career stages are warmly invited to join. Early modernists working outside academia (especially in libraries, museums and other cultural institutions) are welcome to join too. We ask all members to provide evidence of their bona fide interest in early modern studies (e.g. link to website, institutional email address, brief biographical introduction) when joining.
The How-to guide on this website has practical information about joining and using the network.
Is the platform in English only?
Although the platform’s interface is in English, we encourage researchers to communicate with each other in whichever language they prefer.
What happens when I sign up?
Signing up to the platform is like being added to a mailing list. You will begin to receive whole group messages, and if you give some basic information language interests, period of study and other research interests you will receive communications targeted to your interests.
Once a member, you can reply to messages and send announcements from your email inbox, or you can log in to see a directory of members, compose messages to the whole group or sections of it, and view announcements. You can also choose to receive emailed messages immediately, daily or never (in which case you'd need to log into the platform to view messages).
Can I advertise an event without joining the platform?
Email [email protected] with your message. We'll post your notice on the platform, and include it in the next newsletter.
Can I preview the platform before joining?
The network is only visible to members, but we encourage new members to join who are curious about the platform or simply want to show support.
We recommend that anyone who wants to test out the platform signs up without ticking any boxes about research interests. It is easy to update your profile later.
How do I leave the platform?
Email or send a private message to the administrators to be removed from the group. If you no longer belong to any groups you will remain on the platform only as an invisible ‘groupless’ member (visible to the admin only and linked to archived messages).
I manage an existing research network/mailing list. Can we join?
Potentially yes - it’s possible to add new private or public sub-groups to the main Early Modernists group that control their own registration process and settings. We'd be keen to work with more partners: contact us to discuss options.
This sounds useful but I work on a different period – can I join?
The community is for researchers whose interests fall roughly between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries. Researchers working in other periods are welcome to contact us to discuss options for setting up parallel communities.
The Platform
Why are you using commercial software?
Mobilize offers a powerful and simple-to-use platform that allows us to make the most efficient use of the funding available for this pilot project. The platform belongs to a Californian start-up that had its public launch and received Series A funding in September 2016 (see this piece for more information).
Will my data be safe?
Mobilize’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy explain that users retain ownership of their data. Data is visible only to other members. Members must be approved by an admin before entering the directory and email addresses are hidden.
Will my data be archived?
All data is archived on the platform. Administrators can export the directory of members as a spreadsheet. Since most communication is via email, messages are stored in inboxes in the same way as other emails.
How do members avoid spam?
Members will receive more or fewer emails according to how many interests they name. All members control their email settings: each email contains a link to change notification settings (immediately, daily digest or never).
All members of the Early Modernists should target posts and messages to those to whom it will be relevant.
The Group Announcements sub-group allows members to view news about events, projects and publications (and opt-in to receive emails about them).
Is there a Mobile App?
Yes - it was released in mid-2017.
(updated: 13 June 2017)
The Pilot Programme
What is the network for?
The Early Modern Boundaries network is for researchers in early modern studies whose work has a multilingual, transnational or comparative element to discuss research queries among targeted groups of fellow researchers.
It is also possible to post general announcements about new events, projects, publications and other news. We round up news items in a regular email newsletter.
How does this improve on mailing lists and Twitter?
The platform allows discussion among small, filtered groups of members in a way that mailing lists do not. In effect, the network is a customizable mailing list. We hope this platform supplements Twitter as a research tool by providing a professional space in which researchers can identify and contact specialists with research queries.
What do you hope to achieve?
We aim to facilitate international collaboration among early modernists from across the world for the duration of the pilot programme, and to stimulate debate about online research communication in the humanities.
Who’s behind this?
The network has been launched using follow-on funding from a British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award held by Peter Auger (Queen Mary University of London). The steering group provides advice to ensure that the platform is diverse, inclusive and well-run.
How did you select the steering group?
The steering group consists of researchers representing a wide variety of subject areas, departments, universities and habits of online communication. Most spoke at the symposium on ‘National Boundaries in Early Modern Literary Studies’ held at Queen Mary in September 2015, which was where the need for such a platform was first identified.
Why are you running this project only until January 2019?
The pilot programme is intended to learn whether there is longer-term demand for such a platform, and our funding allows us to run the platform until January 2019.
What happens after that date?
We’re not sure yet! The steering group will make ongoing assessments about how the platform is being used, and we will seek a new source of funding if we believe that platform should be continued in some form. We would be very happy to hear ideas about the project’s future direction: get in touch at [email protected] or [email protected].
Joining
Who can join?
Anyone working in early modern studies (c. 15th-18th centuries) at Masters level and above is welcome to sign up. The platform is intended for researchers whose work has a multilingual, transnational or comparative element.
Researchers from all nations and all career stages are warmly invited to join. Early modernists working outside academia (especially in libraries, museums and other cultural institutions) are welcome to join too. We ask all members to provide evidence of their bona fide interest in early modern studies (e.g. link to website, institutional email address, brief biographical introduction) when joining.
The How-to guide on this website has practical information about joining and using the network.
Is the platform in English only?
Although the platform’s interface is in English, we encourage researchers to communicate with each other in whichever language they prefer.
What happens when I sign up?
Signing up to the platform is like being added to a mailing list. You will begin to receive whole group messages, and if you give some basic information language interests, period of study and other research interests you will receive communications targeted to your interests.
Once a member, you can reply to messages and send announcements from your email inbox, or you can log in to see a directory of members, compose messages to the whole group or sections of it, and view announcements. You can also choose to receive emailed messages immediately, daily or never (in which case you'd need to log into the platform to view messages).
Can I advertise an event without joining the platform?
Email [email protected] with your message. We'll post your notice on the platform, and include it in the next newsletter.
Can I preview the platform before joining?
The network is only visible to members, but we encourage new members to join who are curious about the platform or simply want to show support.
We recommend that anyone who wants to test out the platform signs up without ticking any boxes about research interests. It is easy to update your profile later.
How do I leave the platform?
Email or send a private message to the administrators to be removed from the group. If you no longer belong to any groups you will remain on the platform only as an invisible ‘groupless’ member (visible to the admin only and linked to archived messages).
I manage an existing research network/mailing list. Can we join?
Potentially yes - it’s possible to add new private or public sub-groups to the main Early Modernists group that control their own registration process and settings. We'd be keen to work with more partners: contact us to discuss options.
This sounds useful but I work on a different period – can I join?
The community is for researchers whose interests fall roughly between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries. Researchers working in other periods are welcome to contact us to discuss options for setting up parallel communities.
The Platform
Why are you using commercial software?
Mobilize offers a powerful and simple-to-use platform that allows us to make the most efficient use of the funding available for this pilot project. The platform belongs to a Californian start-up that had its public launch and received Series A funding in September 2016 (see this piece for more information).
Will my data be safe?
Mobilize’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy explain that users retain ownership of their data. Data is visible only to other members. Members must be approved by an admin before entering the directory and email addresses are hidden.
Will my data be archived?
All data is archived on the platform. Administrators can export the directory of members as a spreadsheet. Since most communication is via email, messages are stored in inboxes in the same way as other emails.
How do members avoid spam?
Members will receive more or fewer emails according to how many interests they name. All members control their email settings: each email contains a link to change notification settings (immediately, daily digest or never).
All members of the Early Modernists should target posts and messages to those to whom it will be relevant.
The Group Announcements sub-group allows members to view news about events, projects and publications (and opt-in to receive emails about them).
Is there a Mobile App?
Yes - it was released in mid-2017.
(updated: 13 June 2017)